MineralogySource: The American Naturalist, Vol. 17, No. 8 (Aug., 1883), pp. 870-873Published by: The University of Chicago Press for The American Society of NaturalistsStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2450263 .

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870 General Notes. LAugust,

tilia; Aves: Gastornis edwardsi, Renorizis heberti, Eupterornis renzensis Of the above, two genera, Ptilodus and Charnpsosau- rus appear to be absolutely identical in France and New Mexico; some of the others have near allies in New Mexico, but of iden- tity there is not yet certain evidence.

In Europe, as in'America, the Suessonian epoch ushers in the genus Coryphodon. Hyracotheriumr also appears (Pac/zynoloplzis gauzdryi Lem., is a Hyracotherium), and Pliolophus. A number of other genera are probably identical in North America and France, as Miacis, Opisthotomus, Phenacodus, and Pantolestes, with Lophiodon and Dichobune, not yet found in America. Hy- -enodictis and Plesiadapis hold over from the Cernaysian fauna.

Uniformity of nomenclature requires that the Suessonian, in- troduced by D'Orbigny, should replace the name Wasatch, which was given by Hayden many years later.' In like manner the Cernavsienne of Lemoine is identical with the Puerco of Cope, and the latter name has six or seven years priority. So also the genera Ptilodus2 and Champsosaurus3 were named first in America.

The genus Gastornis proves to be one of the most remark- able which paleontology has brought to light. It is the only bird known, in which the cranial sutures are persistent, and it has indi- cations of a tooth in the position of the canine of the Mammalia. It is nevertheless a true carinate bird with reduced wings and complete tarsometatarse. The height of the G. edwardsi is about two and a half meters.

Note.-Since the above was written a well illustrated paper from the Bulletin of the Geological Society of France has come to hand, which describes the species of Neoplagiaulax Lem. The type, N. eocaeus, differs from the Pti/odus medwevus in lacking the third premolar tooth from the lower jaw.-E. D. Cope.

MINERALOGY.4

EMPHOLITE, A NEW MINERAL.-M. L.-J. Igelstr6m 5 has recently described a new mineral from H6rrsj6berg, Sweden, which, oc- curring in minute, generally microscopic crystals, has received the name empholite, from 8'i~wsw to hide.

The crystals are white, transparent, and very brilliant, having a hardness of 6 or over, and belonging to the orthorhombic sys- tem. They have an easy cleavage parallel to the crystallographic

1 See AMERICAN NATURALIST, 1877, P. 95. 2 This genus was described in the NATruRALIST for Nov., i88i (published October

28). The first description of the genus in France (as Aeoplagiaulax Lemn.) bears date Nov., I882, although its discovery was announced in i88o.

3 Proceeds. Philadelphia Academy, Dec., 1876. Described by Gervais as Sim-edo- sauwus, Journal de Zoologie, Feb., 1877.

4 Edited by Professor H. CARVILL LEWIS, Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila- delphia, to whomn communications, papers for review, etc., should be sent.

Bull. Soc. Min. de France, T. VTI, p. 40.

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I 883.| Mineraiogy. 871

axis, and occur in narrow prisms, either as radiated aggregates or as fibrous masses, filling cavities in damourite or pyrophyllite. The crystals are ordinarily so disseminated and so small that they are perceived with difficulty. They frequently occur in fibrous masses like cyanite. In fact, they were at first thought to be cyanite.

With cobalt solution a fine, blue color is obtained after heating. The mineral is insoluble in acid, except so far as a yellow discol- oration of the liquid is produced by the contained iron. Heated in the matrass, water is given off without decrepitation. The min- eral tui ns slightly yellow on exposure to the air. It has a fibrous appearance under the microscope. In its infusibility, its hardness, its cleavage, and, as Bertrand has shown, in its angles, the min- eral is similar to cyanite.

Its composition, however, shows it to- be a distinct species. The following is a mean of two analyses, after subtracting i6 per cent. of gangue:

SiO2 Al203 MgO,CaO,FeO H20 50.5 31.9 3.4 14.2 = 100

giving the formula A1203, 2 SiO2 + 3 H20. Emnpholite appears to be a more hydrous variety of the new

mineral davreuxite.

THE CORNWALL TIN ORES.-Mr. J. H. Collins contributes to the Mineralogical .~zcMazille 1 his third paper on the tin ores of Corn- wall, England. The associated minerals are much the same as in the other tin-producing districts of the world. Tourmaline is a very common associate of cassiterite, and appears to be of con- temporaneous origin. So also are quartz, mica, feldspar, and sometimes apatite, topaz, garnet, hornblende, &c. Of more recent origin, being deposited on top of the cassiterite, are the sulphides of iron, copper, lead, and zinc, the oxides of iron, the carbonates of lime, copper, etc., and many other species.

The mineral known as Gilbertite, a greenish-yellow hydrated mica, almost invariably occurs with the Cornwall cassiterite. It is generally regarded as a variety of mnargarodite, but Mr. Collins thinks that it is a distinct species. It occurs massive, and also in spherical masses with radiated concentric structure, or in stellate groups, and sometimes in six-sided tables. Hardness, I-2.5; specific gravity, 2.6-2.82. It has a greasy feel, like talc. At a high temperature water is given off. The analyses given closely correspond to the composition of margarodite.

As to the origin of the tin ores, the conclusion is reached that they have all been deposited in their present positions from stan- niferous solutions, all being of aqueous origTin. The presence of fluorine probably helped to keep the tin in solution. The tin was

1 Vol. v, p. 12I.

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872 General No/es. [August,

probably originally derived from the surrounding rock, and after- wards deposited by thermal waters in fissures.

In this connection a valuable paper in the American 7ournal of Science on the Genesis of Metalliferous Veins, by Professor Joseph LeConte, is of much interest in confirming this theory of vein formation. Metalliferous deposits are now being formed in Cali- fornia and Nevada, at Sulphur Bank and Steamboat Springs, through the action of up-coming solfataric waters. Even cinna- bar, generally supposed to have been formed by sublimation, is thus deposited from aqueous solution. The metals are deposited from solution in hot waters holding alkaline carbonates and sul- phides, probably by reason of cooling and relief of pressure aided by chemical action as the waters approach the surface.

Professor LeConte holds that gold has in like manner been deposited from an alkaline sulphide solution, and there are strong reasons for believing that this is the true explanation of our met- alliferous vein deposits.

THE MINERALS OF SKYE.-Professor M. F. Heddlel has de- scribed a new mineral locality in the island of Skye. Quite a number of different zeolites occur in the igneous rocks, among them being thomsonite, farcelite, mesolite, stilbite, analcite, lau- monite, chabazite, gyrolite, and apophyllite. Saponite of a pale red color, rarely oil-green, occurs in minute botryoidal groupings, Lad in thin, vein-like processes. Plinthite, a variety of bole, fall- ing to pieces in water, occurs in various forms. It either occurs in beds of varying thickness among the strata, or in the form of clusters of spheres of the size of peas, or as a thin layer among the zeolites. Massive varieties of mesolite and of thomsonite, the latter sometimes called "rock soap," are also described, and several analyses are given.

MINERALOGICAL NOTES.-Mr. J. J. Dobbie directs attention, in the Mineralogical Mcigazine, to a variety of saponite from near Glasgow, which has some peculiar physical properties. The sapo- nite has probably resulted from the alteration of a trap rock, and has a deep chocolate-brown color, a conchoidal fracture and the soapy feel so characteristic of most hydrated silicates of magnesia. It is dull, but may be highly polished by rubbing with the hand. When placed in water it splits into sharp angled fragments, ulti- mately crumbling. It has the chemical composition of saponite.

Hausmannite has been produced artificially by A. Gorgen, and rhodonite by L. Bourgeois. Artificial hausmannite was made by heating chloride of manganese in an atmosphere charged with oxygen and steam, and rhodonite was produced by the fusion of equal parts of silica and binoxide of manganese. Professor Des Cloiseaux has begun the publication of an extended article, in the June number of the Bulletin de la Soc. Min. de France, on the optical I Min. Mag., April, i883, p. 11 5.

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1 883.] Botany. 873

characters of some feldspars. More than 400 determinations of the optical constants of feldspars from numerous localities were made, including sixty-four varieties of oligoclase and ande- site and thirty-seven varieties of albite. Only mineralogists who have been engaged in this kind of work can appreciate the labor involved. The results will be of importance in showing how far feldspars can vary from the type form while preserving their iden- tity, and in distinguishing between such variations and the mix- ture or alternation of different species. Among the specimens examined is the moonstone from Mineral Hill, Penna., which is determined to be a peristerite, containing probably certain admix- tures of oligoclase. -Some very beautiful transparent groups of apatite crystals have been found in the Untersulzbachthal, in Salz- burg. They have a white color with a delicate tint of mauve. The largest of the specimens, so far found, has been deposited in the South Kensington Museum. They are beautifully terminated by a number of planes, and have an unusual luster. The Ore- gon nickel ore is found in two varieties, which analysis has shown to be almost identical with the ores from New Caledonia-gar- nierite and noumeite. They also occur under precisely the same geological conditions. Garnierite has a pale apple-green color, adheres to the tongue, is not unctuous and falls to pieces in water. Noumeite is darker, does not adhere to the tongue, is unctuous, and does not fall to pieces in water. Noumeite contains more water than garnierite.

BOTANY.'

ELLIS' NORTH AMERICAN FUNGI.-In April the tenth and eleventh centuries of this important distribution were received, and a few days later Mr. W. C. Stevenson's Alphabetical Index to Centuries I to x. By means of the latter we are able to make a hasty analysis of the first thousand specimens. Running it hurriedly we note about half a dozen Myxomycetes and the same number of Mucorini. The Peronosporeae are represented by three species of Cystopus and twelve of Peronospora. In the order Perisporiaceae there are twelve species of Microsphoeria, three of Erysiphe, and six of Uncinula. Tuberacexe are repre- sented by but a single species. Under Helvellacex the genus Peziza is represented by sixty-eight species, while of Pyreno- mycetes there are of the principal genera as follows: Diatrype I4 species, Dothidea I3, Hypoxylon 13, Hysterium ii, Nectria i6, Sphaeria 68, Valsa, 39. In the Uredinexe, AEcidium has f4 species, Phragmidium 4, Puccinia i9, Uromyces I 5, and in Usti- lagineae of Urocystis 2, and Ustilago 5. Half a dozen or so spe- cies represent the Gasteromycetes, while of Hymenomycetes there are of Agaricus IO species, CorticiuM 23, Hydnurn I4, Irpex 5, Marasmnius 9, Stereuin 14. The order Saprolegniacexe

1 Edited by PROF. C. E. BESSEY, Ames, Iowa.

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